Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson is not allowing his Socceroos call up to distract him from the task at hand, Friday night’s final-round Hyundai A-League clash with Wellington Phoenix which he rates as the ‘hugest game of the season’.
Second-placed Melbourne are desperate for a victory – and preferably a heavy one – in its bid to overhaul Adelaide who top the table on goal difference only, plus-11 to plus-10.
Named in the national squad for next Wednesday’s Asian Cup clash with Indonesia in Jakarta, Thompson wants to get his eye in by getting his name on the scoresheet against the fifth-placed Phoenix whose own finals prospects are on the line.
“I would have to say personally it’s probably the biggest game of the season,” Thompson said.
“It’s deciding a minor premiership, it’s deciding a top-two spot – it’s deciding an Asian Champions League spot.”
“I can’t say any more about it, it’s the hugest game of the season.”
As keen as strike partner Danny Allsopp will be to press his own claims for a third Socceroos cap and a place in the starting line-up in Jakarta, it’s the result on Friday night that’s paramount.
“I just want to win this game, we need the three points,” Allsopp said.
“The only way I can approach the game is to concentrate on playing normally and hopefully I can get into the right spots.”
“If I can score a goal or two that would be great, but personal things are down the list.”
With 11 goals for the season so far, Allsopp trails the competition’s leading scorer, Phoenix striker Shane Smeltz, by one.
Victory defender Rody Vargas knows he’ll be doing Allsopp and the team an enormous favour if he can keep a tight rein on the dangerous Smeltz.
“We’ll be looking to mark him fairly tightly, but we’ll be concentrating on our own game and trying to keep a clean sheet and score as many goals as possible and try to make it an entertaining game for the crowd,” said Vargas.
“We both have to go out and win the game, so it’s going to be a very entertaining contest.”
“No-one will be holding back and I’m sure there will be plenty of goals, hopefully for our side.”
Vargas is another national squad member who’s taking it ‘one match at-a-time’.
“Friday is first priority for us, it’s a massive game for the club and we would like to get close to 30,000 this week at Telstra Dome, get the members in the ground and get a really intimidating atmosphere at the ground and get a few goals to put us back on the top of the table again.”
